Treat for All Tennis Lovers

Tennis (lawn tennis) was part of the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympic Games program, but since then it was dropped from the 1924 Summer Olympics onwards. Then, after two appearances as a demonstration sport, it returned back as a full medal sport in the 1988 Summer Olympics and has been played in every edition of the Games since then on. In 1896, 1900, 1904, 1988, and 1992, semifinal losers were given bronze medals. Other than these years, a play-off match for the bronze medal was staged. From the 2004 Athens Olympics onwards results of the Olympics count towards both the ATP and WTA world rankings.

Events of Tennis at Olympics

Tennis was first time contested as a Summer Olympic sport in the 1896 Games which were held in Athens. In the inaugural event, only 2 tournaments were played: men’s singles and men’s doubles. Women were only allowed in beginning to compete in singles and mixed doubles tennis events at the Olympic Games in 1900. Between the era of 1928 and 1988, tennis was not included as an official Olympic program. However Demonstration tennis events took place twice, first in 1968 and later in 1984. It was reinstated as a medal sport in 1988.

Record Holders of Tennis at Olympics

Kathleen McKaneGodfree is the all-time record holder for having most medals in tennis at Olympics, with one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes medals and Reginald Doherty and Venus Williams are the all-time record holders for having most Olympic Tennis gold medals with having three gold medals a piece. Four tennis players have yet earned four medals: Doherty (who sits on top of the table for overall medals table with having 3 gold and 1 bronze), Charles Dixon with one gold, one silver, two bronze, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Gunnar Setterwall both with two silver, two bronze medals. There are 8 Americans who have earned two or more gold medals; while a further 10 athletes from other countries have achieved this particular feat, including 6 from Great Britain and 2 from France.

Three names are to be seen the most during Australian Open Tennis era of 1990-2000. Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis were the rising and shining stars of that time in the world of tennis. Monica Seles along with her game gained much popularity as she was stabbed by the crazy fan of Steffi. Martina Hingis charmed the crowed with her game and beauty and won the three consecutive Australian Open titles as well. Details of 1990-2000 female winners and runner-ups of Australian Open are below:

Although Evonne Goolagong Court ruled the 70’s era of Australian Open but along with time, some other female tennis players took over the court with winning the title number of times. Greatest female tennis player Steffi Graf won the Australian Open title four times and won three of them consecutively. Along with her, Monica Seles is a four time Australian Open winner with winning three times consecutively. At times, you do wonder where those legendary players have gone. For this reason, we are bringing you their success. Here are the 1970-1979 Australian Open female winners:

What is the first name that pops up in mind when you talk about tennis in the last decade? Yes, he is none other than Roger Federer, the greatest male tennis player of all time. Not only he holds the record of winning the most number of Grand Slams (16) but he has also tied a record of winning the most number of Australian Open tennis championships. The winning streak of Roger Federer in Australian Open faced resistance from the two famous tennis players Rafael Nadal and Djokovic. Let us have a look on the winners and runner-ups of 2000-2011:

Australian Open tennis tournament is the first Grand Slam of the year that is played in the last fortnight of January. It is a hard court tournament and played at the Melbourne Park. Over the last decades, the greatest tennis players, both male and female have displayed tremendous talents and played some extraordinary games at the Australian Open tournament. Some have ruled the court over an extended period of time making it impossible for other players to penetrate the consistent win cycle. In the male category, famous male tennis players Rod Laver and Roy Emerson ruled the hard court Australian Open. Here are the winners and runner-ups (male players) of Australian Open from 1960-1969:

US Open is one of the four tournaments of Grand Slam. The ultimate ruler of this era is beyond doubt Roger Federer, from Switzerland, yet winning the title five consecutive times from 2004-2008, which makes him the ultimate ruler of this era. Other prominent name is of USA tennis player Andy Roddick, who won the title back in 2003 and was runner up in 2006. The current U.S Open champion, a famous Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal is also in the list of U.S Open top players. Another big name which has started dominating the circuit is of the Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic. The list of male winners and runner-ups of U.S Open Tennis Championship during 2010-2000 is as follow:

Tennis and glamour have always been walking together hand in hand, season to season, continents to continents and their relation is tied up as twins.

It’s all about the lights of glamour and the game that turned the Swedish giant to a legendry profile Bjorn Borg, both in the court and to the media as one of the hottest male players of his era. German stars are not far away in this race, putting their profile in the list of hot shots through Boris Becker, whose name kept shining in the media faster than his rocket serve. Now a day’s glamour is so much into tennis that the legends are competing both in the circuit as well as in the media lights, and there is one angry star famous for his racket breaking, Marat Safin whose anger is more than the heat produced by the glamorous lights.

The profile of hottest tennis male players is incomplete without the Spanish bull Rafael Nadal known as “Rafa”, who has truly caught the eyes of millions around the world not only by his top game but also by his Biceps. Some say his biceps are stronger than the bulls horn followed by his country man Fernando Verdasco who couldn’t rule the circuit but is ruling the hearts of thousands of girls with his hotness.

Last but not the least, a name no one wants to miss is of the current world No. 1 from Serbia, Novak Djokovic, who has crushed all opponents in the current year and is also under the fashion lights which are constantly storming around him. Perhaps with his hot and cool attitude and sexy body, he no doubt is the icon of the hottest male tennis players of history. Any doubt? 😉

A bond of family love and honor is now on a test in the tennis circuit. The formidable journey of William Sisters has put the flag of United States high in the skies of tennis world and holds an honorable position in the world tennis circuit.

Imagining a rivalry taking birth from inside the family tied with the blood relation, is itself a contest worth notable in terms of their world class game skills, devotion and solid uncontested career. Facing each other 23 times, goes in favor of Serena Williams who is leading the battle 13-10, and her lead becomes dominant in Grand Slams as she has the pretty one sided lead of 6-2 in her favor.

The thing which makes them unique and uncontesting with others is that they have been mostly facing each other in the Grand Slams which itself is one high achievement and shows the high class skills and repute of both the sisters. Both former world champions are also leading the table in doubles and are seeded no. 1 in double ranks. Venus Williams is leading the numbers in career titles which are 43 as compared to Serena William’s 37 titles. They are both inarguably the best ever female double players in the history.

Winning the 1980’s U.S Open in the epic 5th set win of 7-6, after loosing the third set 0-6, was a miraculous come back of one the legendry tennis players i.e. John McEnroe, against the bitter and nerve cracking opponent Jimmy Connors, which forced Jimmy Connors to make the statement “something like that never goes away, especially between Mac and myself”.

The epic battle of bitter rivalry between the two J’s, John and his fellow U.S opponent Jimmy, led the United States tennis flying high on the clouds of victory and honors, thus always giving the spectators a true reward of their money and time in the shape of the utter excitement and the peak of professional tennis. Both the U.S tennis giants met 34 times in the time span of 1977 to 1991, with John McEnroe leading the battle 20-14.

The stirred rivalry has generated few of the greatest matches in the history of the tennis, putting the buzz in the minds of the fans, as to who is better. A question remains unanswered to till date.

Don Budge vs. Gottfried von Cramm

Gottfried Alexander Maximilian Walter Kurt Freiherr von Cramm commonly known on the court as “Baron”, a German tennis star remained under the stir rivalry of a United States tennis giant and former world no. 1 Don Budge.

The rivalry become the fight for prestige and honor, in a nerve wrecking battle between the two in Davis Cup Final in Wimbledon in 1937, under the shores of the world war and the war of the tennis between the Germany and the United States. In the epic decider, Budge was down and Gottfried von Cramm had the decisive lead of 4-1, but then Budge fought back and won the historical match by 8-6, and sealed the victory for United States.

Budge was famous for his all round game, with the combination of strong volleys, powerful serve and great technique. He turned himself into a world class player and eventually world number one. Gottfried von Cramm had a controversial tennis career filled by imprisonment and other accusations, which reduced his tennis career and quality of game.

Their rivalry was not a rivalry of individuals; instead it turned out to be the rivalry between the two countries which makes it famous and controversial worldwide.

What does tennis in the 21st century reminds you of? Of course, none other than Federer and Nadal rivalry. After the Agassi vs Sampras greatest rivalry, Nadal and Federer have been able to captivate the audiences for longest hours, holding on to their breath for a thrilling and unexpected result. These two players have met many times on the court and played some of the best tennis matches of the history which definitely includes the 2008 Wimbledon final.

Famous and greatest tennis player Roger Federer was ranked number 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks whereas Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal held this spot for 160 consecutive weeks. They are the only men in the open era, who have battled each other in eight Grand Slam finals, with Nadal having the big edge by winning six of the eight finals. This makes them the most challenging rivals of all time. Rafael Nadal is leading the table head-to-head 17–8. Nadal is dominant in French open by winning the title 5 times where as Federer has only won once. Over all, Federer has won the Grand Slam titles 16 times as compared to Nadal who has so far won 9 times. The overall comparison of both the players in terms of game and fitness level does not have much difference.